The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2024)

If you've ever wondered how to make stromboli like they do at your favorite old-school pizza parlor, this Easy Stromboli Recipe is for you! It's like a rolled-up pizza filled with your favorite toppings and plenty of gooey cheese, then baked so that the crust is on the outside.

If you love pizza as we do, be sure to check out our BEST Pizza Dough Recipe, No-Cook Homemade Pizza Sauce, and Whole Wheat Pizza Dough!

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (1)
Table of Contents
  1. Why We Love This Recipe
  2. What You'll Need
  3. How to Make Stromboli
  4. Recipe FAQs
  5. Tips for Success
  6. Substitutions and Variations
  7. Serving Suggestions
  8. More Pizza Night Recipes To Try
  9. Easy Stromboli Recipe Recipe
  10. More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series

When I was researching foods the state of Delaware is known for as part of my American Eats series, I kept coming across the Nic-o-boli from Nicola Pizza in Rehoboth Beach, a popular seaside destination in Delaware.

For someone like me who has never been there or experienced it, trying to figure out exactly what a Nic-o-boli is was a little confusing. From what I can tell, Nicola's Nic-o-boli is a cross between a calzone and a stromboli. You can get all sorts of fillings, but the classic ingredients of a Nic-o-boli stromboli seem to be ground beef, cheese, and tomato sauce.

And it has a huge cult following. Like, a following big enough to inspire Former President George H.W. Bush to have actual, authentic Nic-o-boli shipped to the White House and cause other famous personalities to rave about them too.

So I thought I would share my best stromboli recipe with you to represent Delaware since I think it's probably fairly similar to Nic-o-boli, even if it's not exactly the same!

Check out my Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, this St. Louis-Style Pizza, or my quick and easy Pizza Casserole for more pizza-lovers' treats!

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (3)

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Make each stromboli your own, you can easily customize this recipe with your favorite pizza toppings.
  • This recipe uses fresh ingredients, but you can use store-bought dough to make this recipe even quicker and easier!
  • Ready in just 35 minutes, it's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner for the whole family!

What You'll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Sugar - White granulated sugar works well to aid the yeast.
  • Yeast - I used active dry yeast which needs to be proofed in warm water before adding the rest of the ingredients to the dough.
  • Salt - To enhance the flavors of the dough.
  • Flour - All-purpose flour will work well for this recipe but you can use bread flour if you prefer.
  • Oil - To keep the dough moist and malleable. Use olive oil or another neutral-flavored oil.
  • Beef - Use lean ground beeffor the best flavor with the least grease.
  • Cheese - Use mozzarella cheese for that classic margherita flavor.
  • Sauce - Use my Homemade Marinara Sauce or your favorite pizza saucewith Italian seasoning for the base.
  • Egg - To help bind the edges of the stromboli together so the fillings don't fall out!

How to Make Stromboli

  1. Make pizza crust. To make the dough, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast and let sit for 5 minutes.After the yeast has proofed for 5 minutes and is foamy, add the salt and 1 cup of flour and mix well.
  2. Knead. Continue to add the remaining flour, kneading until smooth for about 5 minutes. Use olive oil to lightly grease a clean bowl. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl, giving it a quick turn to coat in the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.
  3. Roll the dough. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F for at least 20 minutes. While the oven preheats, roll the dough into a large rectangle - just like you would when making cinnamon rolls.
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (4)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (5)
  1. Make stromboli fillings. For the super simple, but surprisingly delicious ground beef and cheese stromboli that I think might be sort of similar to the original Nic-o-boli, just brown some ground beef and grate some mozzarella cheese. Or sauté some sliced sweet peppers and onions in a little oil in a pan until soft.
  2. Add fillings. Next, add the prepared fillings in the center of the dough in a line. Leave a 2-inch border around the edges of the pizza dough. For the classic Nic-o-boli approach, use the browned ground beef, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (6)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (7)
  1. Alternative sweet pepper and salami filling. If you want to try one of our other favorite stromboli fillings, layer salami and sauteed sweet peppers with mozzarella cheese.
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (8)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (9)
  1. Add eggwash. Brush the edges of the dough with egg wash. This helps seal the stromboli when you're rolling it up so that the insides don't leak out while it's baking.
  2. Seal the ends. Fold the short ends over first so that the filling doesn't spill out as it cooks.
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (10)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (11)
  1. Roll. Then roll/fold the stromboli up and place it seam side down on an overturned prepared baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
  2. Bake. Slash the top a few times with a sharp knife to help vent the steam as the stromboli cooks. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until browned on top and cooked through.
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (12)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (13)
  1. Serve. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing on the side.
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (14)

Recipe FAQs

What is Stromboli?

For anyone who has never heard of or had stromboli before, it's similar to a calzone, but instead of folding and sealing the edges, a stromboli is rolled up on itself into a cylinder, a little like when you make cinnamon rolls.

You bake it as a log so that all the cheese and toppings stay in the middle.

Wikipediasays that Stromboli probably got its name either from the volcanic island of Stromboli, just off the north coast of Sicily, or from the movie about the island (whose active volcano supposedly inspired J.R. Tolkien when creating the fictional Mount Doom of Mordor in "The Lord of the Rings") that starred Ingrid Bergman in the 1950s.

What is the difference between a stromboli and a calzone?

When distinguishing between stromboli and calzone, the best distinctions I have found are in terms of shape and fillings. Although even then, it sounds like there is no clear-cut quality that sets one apart from the other.

The main difference is their shape. While calzones are more semi-circle, crescent-shaped, like a half moon, stromboli is made in a long cylinder or a log shape.

The other difference is filling and flavor. Stromboli is most frequently filled with Italian cold cuts (think salami, prosciutto, soppressata, and such) and cheese but no sauce. Calzone, on the other hand, has basically anything a pizza might have, including sauce.

Even so, there don't seem to be any hard and fast rules about what goes into one or the other, so if you want to go ahead and fill your stromboli with sauce, you go for it!

How do I store strombolis?

Leftover stromboli can be stored in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.

Tips for Success

  • It's totally optional to brush the top of the stromboli with egg wash. It gives the finished stromboli a beautiful, glossy brown finish. But I actually prefer no egg wash. It has that drier, slightly rougher, flour-dusted texture and flavor that I associate with pizza parlors. See the difference between the ground beef stromboli pictures (no egg wash) and the sweet peppers and sausage stromboli pictures (with egg wash).
  • If you opt to use tomato sauce, you can make marinara sauce from scratch or buy it in a bottle from the store. I typically pick up Classico or Bertolli marinara to have on hand for crazy nights or when I'm just feeling lazy. But you might want to cook it down a bit over medium-low heat until it thickens slightly so it isn't too watery when you put it in the stromboli.
  • Preheat your oven for a good 20 minutes or more before putting your stromboli in to cook. Even though ovens say they are preheated, it actually takes longer than most ovens account for in order to fully heat.
  • Turn the baking sheet upside down as it will help your stromboli to cook evenly in your home oven if you don't have a pizza stone. This is a trick I use with normal pizzas too.
  • Make your favorite homemade pizza dough. This recipe uses a single-batch version of my own pizza dough. Any homemade dough (even store-bought pizza dough) would work. You can easily double the pizza base recipe and make multiple strombolis so that there are leftovers since my family of 4 can easily tackle one stromboli for dinner on our own.

Stromboli Fillings

I made two of my favorite homemade stromboli recipe variations for this post: a super basic ground beef, cheese, and pizza sauce combo that was inspired by the Nic-o-boli, and a sweet pepperoni salami stromboli because sweet peppers bring me joy!

Here are some other stromboli fillings that you might want to try: pepperoni, sweet Italian sausage, ham, chicken, thinly sliced steak, fresh spinach, mushrooms, fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, roasted garlic, or eggplant (stromboli is one of my favorite ways of using eggplant, actually).

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (15)

Substitutions and Variations

  • Pizza base. Use store-bought dough for the base of this pizza roll, or you can even use Italian bread dough.
  • Spice it up. Red pepper flakes, jalapenos, or a spicy sauce are all delicious ways to bring heat to this dish.
  • Fresh herbs and greens. Add fresh herbs and leafy greens in with the fillings. Alternatively, add them on top of the dough after it's rolled as a garnish to add nutrients and more flavor.
  • Garnish. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and some Italian herbs like dried basil and oregano before baking.
  • Cheese. Use your favorite cheeses in Stromboli to create a flavor combination that suits your tastes. Mozzarella cheese is a classic choice, but cheddar, Mexican cheese mix, goat's cheese, or feta would also taste great with the right fillings.

Serving Suggestions

Stromboli makes such a delicious main dish, served with a good salad on the side, like this Spinach, Bacon, and Egg Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing, or veggies like Roasted Broccoli. It can also be served as an appetizer, dipped in extra marinara or ranch. It's great for game day parties with Toasted Ravioli or Jalapeno Poppers.

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (16)
The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (17)

More Pizza Night Recipes To Try

  • Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
  • Four Cheese Pizza with Tomato Basil Arugula Salad
  • Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
  • Whole Wheat Veggie Pizza
  • Crescent Roll Pizza

Pizza

St. Louis-Style Pizza (No Yeast)

Pizza

Cast Iron Pan Pizza (Copycat Pizza Hut Pizza Recipe)

Pizza

Legit Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (21)

PrintPinRate

Easy Stromboli Recipe

Amy Nash

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

If you've ever wondered how to make stromboli as they do at your favorite old-school pizza parlor, this Easy Stromboli Recipe is for you! It's like a rolled-up pizza filled with your favorite toppings and plenty of gooey cheese, then baked so that the crust is on the outside.

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

  • 1 cup warm water
  • ¾ teaspoon sugar
  • ½ Tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Filling

  • ¾ pound ground beef, browned
  • 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup marinara or pizza sauce
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  • In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast and let sit for 5 minutes.

  • After the yeast has proofed for 5 minutes and is foamy, add the salt and 1 cup of flour and mix well. Continue to add the remaining flour, kneading until smooth for about 5 minutes.

  • Use the olive oil to lightly grease a clean bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, giving it a quick turn to coat in the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F for at least 20 minutes. While the oven preheats, roll the dough into a large, thin rectangle. Top with the ground beef, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese, leaving a 2-inch border around the sides.

  • Brush the border with the egg wash, then fold the short ends over the edges of the filling and roll the stromboli into a cylinder-shaped log.

  • Transfer the stromboli to an overturned baking sheet lined with parchment paper with the seam side down. Brush the top with remaining egg wash (if desired) and cut diagonal gashes across the top with a sharp knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until browned on top and cooked through.

  • Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing on the side.

Notes

  • Amount: As written, the recipe makes 1 stromboli, which is enough for 4 people as a meal or 8 people as an appetizer. But the recipe easily doubles to make 2 strombolis at a time.
  • Storage: Leftover stromboli can be stored in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
  • Sweet Pepper and Salami Stromboli: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet and sauté ½ sliced onion and 1½ cups sliced sweet peppers until soft. Fill the stromboli with the sautéed vegetables along with some sliced salami and 1½ cups of mozzarella cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 687kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 1083mg | Potassium: 458mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 476IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 250mg | Iron: 6mg

Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew JerseyNew YorkOregonPuerto RicoSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTexasUtahWisconsin

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About the author

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (26)

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

Learn More

The BEST Easy Stromboli Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2024)

FAQs

Does a stromboli have sauce in it? ›

You'll sometimes find a little sauce in a stromboli, but it's often left out or served on the size for dipping like a calzone.

Which is healthier, calzone or stromboli? ›

A calzone is healthier because it has less cheese. While a stromboli contains cheese and pepperoni, a calzone has leaner meat and whole-wheat dough. The whole-wheat dough is lower in calories and contains more fiber. You should also avoid processed meats.

What is typically in stromboli? ›

A stromboli is an Italian-American dish that features a rectangle of pizza dough or yeasted bread dough that's topped with mozzarella (sometimes Parmesan or other cheeses) and add-ons such as cured meats and veggies, and sometimes tomato sauce too.

Does a stromboli have ricotta cheese? ›

Calzones use ricotta cheese, and stromboli does not. Stromboli is made with mozzarella cheese (preferably low-moisture) to keep moisture at a minimum.

What is panzerotto? ›

A panzerotto (Italian: [pantseˈrɔtto]; pl. : panzerotti, Italian: [pantseˈrɔtti]), also known as panzarotto ( Italian: [pantsaˈrɔtto]), is a savory turnover, that originated in central and southern Italian cuisine, which resembles a small calzone, both in shape and dough used for its preparation.

Where did stromboli originate? ›

Stromboli was invented by Italian Americans in the United States, in the Philadelphia area. The name of the dish is taken from a volcanic island off the coast of Sicily. A stromboli is similar to a calzone or scaccia, and the dishes are sometimes confused.

What does calzone mean in Italian? ›

The origin of the calzone began in Naples, Italy in the early 1700s. If you were to translate 'calzone' from Italian to English, it would mean 'pants leg. ' Pants leg refers to the Italians with the need for a pizza on the go!

What does stromboli mean in English? ›

: bread dough that is rolled or sometimes folded around a filling often composed of cheese, cold cuts, vegetables, and sauce and then baked. A close relative of pizza, stromboli is made, essentially, by rolling up an unbaked pizza like a log, tucking in the ends as you go.

Can stromboli be made ahead of time? ›

You can build your stromboli up to 24 hours in advance of baking and keep it tightly wrapped on a baking sheet in the fridge until baking time. Once you're ready to bake, let the stromboli sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Bake the stromboli until golden-brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

What are some fun facts about stromboli? ›

Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It has been in nearly continuous eruption for about 2,000 years (some volcanologists suggest 5,000 years). Most of the present cone was well developed 15,000 years ago. This photo shows the volcano and town of Stromboli.

Can you freeze stromboli? ›

Freezing Baked Stromboli: Allow baked stromboli to cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil (or a layer of both), and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw, still wrapped, for just 1 hour at room temperature. Bake, lightly covered with aluminum foil, in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 30 minutes.

Why is there no sauce in a calzone? ›

Sauce: Usually pizza sauce is used either as a dip or even inside the filling in Calzone. There is a scare of the calzone becoming soggy if you add more sauce to the filling. So our recommendation would be to serve it with hot pizza sauce on the side.

What is the difference between a calzone and a stromboli reddit? ›

To the best of my knowledge, Stromboli is rolled up to create layers on the interior in an almost spiraled fashion, whereas Calzones are large pockets, much like an empanada, without layering on the inside.

What is the definition of a stromboli? ›

noun. strom·​bo·​li sträm-ˈbō-lē plural strombolis. : bread dough that is rolled or sometimes folded around a filling often composed of cheese, cold cuts, vegetables, and sauce and then baked.

Is a hot pocket a calzone or stromboli? ›

A pizza pocket is similar to a calzone but does not contain tomato sauce. Its filling is typically cheese and vegetables. While the former has more tomato sauce, a pizza pocket contains everything else.

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